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Report on data interoperability measures will be released at HIMSS22

14 March 2022

Set of recommendations by the Healthcare Leadership Council to be introduced at HIMSS breakfast panel hosted by Surescripts

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2022 — The Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC) will release a report on how to better measure progress toward health data interoperability at a March 16 breakfast event, hosted by Surescripts, in conjunction with the HIMSS Global Health Conference in Orlando, FL.

The report, “Opportunities for Private Sector Measures to Inform and Advance Interoperability Policy,” prepared in cooperation with the University of California, San Francisco, will be addressed by speakers from HLC, Surescripts, Anthem, Mayo Clinic and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The Surescripts-hosted 7 a.m. event, Measuring Industry-Wide Interoperability in the Time of COVID (registration information available at link) will explore the role of the private sector in sharing interoperability metrics, guidance from the federal government, and the need for greater public-private collaboration to measure progress.

Acknowledging there is no single data source that fully captures the dimensions of interoperability with an understanding of real-world flow and use of data, this report describes existing public sector measures, presents select measures by “use case” from private sector companies, highlights current interoperability measurement gaps, and offers recommendations for public and private sector organizations to coordinate efforts around interoperability measurement.

Mary R. Grealy, president of the Healthcare Leadership Council stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the enormous role that data can play in pandemic preparedness. By determining what challenges we face in data flow, we can better improve sharing of information to give stakeholders the ability to better improve outcomes. This report, which continues HLC’s work to advance interoperability, will help assess how the private sector is measuring interoperability progress, which is key to support sharing efforts in the future. Collaborating with both public and private stakeholders will strengthen our information infrastructure.”

“The need for interoperability becomes more urgent every day—especially as the COVID-19 pandemic incurs new information-sharing demands among more payers, providers and public health agencies,” said Tom Skelton, Chief Executive Officer of Surescripts. “Measuring interoperability will help us understand areas where we need to optimize the digital health transformation, as we continue to help clinicians and care managers seamlessly communicate and bridge information gaps when coordinating care.”

“Measuring interoperability is a complex challenge with a lot of moving parts, and no single data source can capture all of the nuances,” said A Jay Holmgren, Assistant Professor at the UCSF Center for Clinical Informatics and Improvement Research. “Assessing the current state of the interoperability landscape is critical to making progress, identifying barriers, and targeting future efforts. This is why private sector data is so important, because it can fill many of the gaps in our understanding around where and when data is exchanged and used, and where it’s not. I was thrilled to partner with HLC on this report, which highlights how private sector data can complement our measurement efforts and make a difference in the work towards a health care system where data flows seamlessly to ensure patients receive the highest quality care.”

Matt Swain, Chief of Staff at ONC stated, “Having consistent and transparent measurement is vital for addressing interoperability gaps and inequities. ONC applauds HLC’s efforts to spearhead private-sector driven interoperability measurement activities to complement ONC’s measurement portfolio and provide a more comprehensive understanding on industry progress and remaining challenges.”

“COVID-19 taught us many things, including the value of our past investments in EHRs and interoperability. Our response to the pandemic would have been much weaker if patient data had still been locked up in paper files,” explained Cris Ross, Chief Information Officer at Mayo Clinic. “The report sponsored by HLC identifies ways we can do even more to advance cures and healing through broad ethical use of data.”

Additional HLC members, Change Healthcare, Epic, Labcorp and McKesson, supplied data for the report but are unable to be in Orlando for the conference. There are three high-priority use cases illustrated in which data from the private sector fills measurement gaps.
Epic CEO, Judy Faulkner, provided insight, saying, “Interoperability across care settings is essential for improving patient care, safety, and satisfaction. Measuring the impact of health information sharing can help us understand what’s working and guide our efforts to advance further the seamless and secure exchange of health information.”

Additionally, Dr. Brian Caveney, chief medical director and president, Labcorp Diagnostics noted, “COVID-19 was a great example of commercial laboratories, like Labcorp, providing clear, actionable data to public health authorities to identify the virus and develop strategies to respond in their communities.”

“At Change Healthcare, we invest in opportunities to build a sustainable healthcare system for everyone. Improving interoperability and sharing health data among all industry stakeholders – including patients – is critical to help create healthier communities in order to move the needle on value-based care,” said Neil de Crescenzo, president and CEO of Change Healthcare.

HLC Media Contact:

Kelly Fernandez 

202-449-3452